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The effect of repetitive ankle perturbations on muscle reaction time and muscle activity

  • Peter K. Thain
    ,
  • Gerwyn T.G. Hughes
    ,
  • Andrew Mitchell
  • University of Hertfordshire
    ,
  • Birmingham City University
    ,
  • University of San Francisco
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Open access

Abstract

The use of a tilt platform to simulate a lateral ankle sprain and record muscle reaction time is a well-established procedure. However, a potential caveat is that repetitive ankle perturbation may cause a natural attenuation of the reflex latency and amplitude. This is an important area to investigate as many researchers examine the effect of an intervention on muscle reaction time. Muscle reaction time, peak and average amplitude of the peroneus longus and tibialis anterior in response to a simulated lateral ankle sprain (combined inversion and plantar flexion movement) were calculated in twenty-two physically active participants. The 40 perturbations were divided into 4 even groups of 10 dominant limb perturbations. Within-participants repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were conducted to assess the effect of habituation over time for each variable. There was a significant reduction in the peroneus longus average amplitude between the aggregated first and last 10 consecutive ankle perturbations (F = 3.90, P = 0.03, ɳ = 0.16). Authors should implement no more than a maximum of 30 consecutive ankle perturbations (inclusive of practice perturbations) in future protocols simulating a lateral ankle sprain in an effort to avoid significant attenuation of muscle activity.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 184-190

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology (Volume 30)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 10/07/2016
  • Published - 15/07/2016

Publication status

Published - 15/07/2016

ISSN

1050-6411

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/621927
  • Scopus: 84984830275

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